Light-wave guides and method of producing same

摘要

A light-wave guide fiber is pulled from a uniform fiber-yielding material and the peripheral surface areas (cladding) of such fiber are enriched with a gas soluble in the fiber material at temperatures below the softening temperature of the fiber and at relatively high pressure (for example, via high pressure/high temperature diffusion). The excess pressure resulting in the cladding is equalized by a subsequent temporary heating of the fiber above the softening temperature which causes a change of density in the fiber core. Thereafter, the gas is diffused out of the cladding at a lower temperature. The resultant fiber exhibits a radially outwardly decreasing refractive index.